[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14099]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       2014 GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS

  Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today, I wish to applaud the Saint 
Thomas Aquinas School of Indianapolis and Carmel High School of Carmel, 
IN for being recognized as 2014 Green Ribbon Schools by the U.S. 
Department of Education.
  Established in 2011, the Green Ribbon School program is the Federal 
Government's first comprehensive green school initiative. Since its 
inception, the program has offered the opportunity for schools in every 
State to gain recognition for educational and environmental 
accomplishments. Recognition as a Green Ribbon institution is based on 
a school's ability to reduce environmental impact, improve the health 
of students and staff, and provide environmental education. Both of 
these exceptional Hoosier schools have made great strides in these 
areas.
  In 2003, Saint Thomas Aquinas School constructed a National Wildlife 
Federation-certified schoolyard where students can learn about the 
environmental sciences as they grow vegetables for a local food pantry. 
In addition, Saint Thomas Aquinas School has also greatly reduced its 
carbon footprint through the installation of new energy efficient 
windows and low-flush toilets, the implementation of an extensive 
recycling program, and the encouragement of walking and biking to 
school. As a result, Saint Thomas Aquinas has reduced its solid waste 
by nearly 30 percent and carbon-emissions by nearly 19 percent.
  Similarly, Carmel High School has made its campus and the surrounding 
community environmentally friendly. Carmel has embraced energy saving 
technology such as energy efficient bulbs and LED lighting and has 
moved to a fuel efficient bus fleet. After two decades of implementing 
these impressive measures, Carmel High School has reduced its energy 
consumption by 72 percent, its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50 
percent and its water consumption by 55 percent. The school also 
established Carmel Green Teen, a board that dispenses microloans for 
student projects that work towards pollution reduction, conservation, 
and energy savings.
  I would like to thank Principal Cara Swinefurth of Saint Thomas 
Aquinas School and Principal John Williams of Carmel High School, their 
entire staffs, and their students for the hard work and dedication it 
undoubtedly took to receive this prestigious award.
  On behalf of the citizens of Indiana, I congratulate both the Carmel 
High School and Saint Thomas Aquinas communities, and I wish them 
continued success in the future.

                          ____________________